Book Description Review “[I]deally suited to being read aloud… Readers of a variety of ages will appreciate this educational, beautifully designed homage to the many creatures who are affected by climate change around the world.” – School Library Journal, starred review“[Numenia and the Hurricane] would make a suspenseful storytime read-aloud… A dramatic depiction of a remarkable avian accomplishment.” – Kirkus Reviews”Halliday’s vivid depiction of Numenia will capture readers’ hearts and minds. [Numenia’s] intense journey is a natural tie-in for science units on animals or extreme weather.” – Booklist Read more About the Author Fiona Halliday loves all things finned, furred, feathered and fantastical. She studied English Literature at Edinburgh University and received a MA in Photojournalism from the University of Westminster, London. She has been a freelance journalist and photographer, an English teacher, and an organist. She currently works as a graphic and web designer, and does German-to-English translations. Originally from Scotland, she now lives in Austria. This is her debut picture book. Read more Customers Review: A story of perseverance, beauty, and triumph that any reader – young to old – would love! Inspired by a true story of one little whimbrel’s courageous journey through a treacherous storm and her determination to unite with her family once again. A beautiful read-aloud in a classroom or at home. Halliday’s lyrical words leap and dance across each page as her gorgeous illustrations leave the reader awestruck. The backmatter provides educational information about whimbrels, a migratory shorebird, and the story behind a tenacious whimbrel named Hope. With the little whimbrels’ “Curlee, curlee, Curloo” echoing, the reader is left inspired and remembering never to underestimate the power of quiet courage and determination when weathering a storm.
Fiona Halliday’s Numenia and the Hurricane is breathtakingly beautiful! Halliday’s stunning artwork and lyrical verse capture the reader from the first page turn. Rich, eloquent language relates the true migration story of a tiny whimbrel named Hope. The dramatic artwork, with its many layers, will make this a book to look at again and again! Highly recommended.
This is a story that will capture the hearts of all who read it. Beautiful illustrations will engage children…and the dramatic text will keep them turning the pages to find out the fate of this amazing creature, the whimbrel.Hats off to author/illustrator Fiona Halliday – I’m honored to add this wonderful book to my shelves!
This is truly a magnificent book, from the lyrical language to the gorgeous art. A resonant and compelling story for our climate changing times, and to help children find courage in their own storms. Exciting, emotional, beautiful, and uplifting–I would give it more stars if I could! Absolutely stunning!
This classic tale of triumph over adversity – survival of a migrant whimbrel against formidable odds – is told in scintillating images and words. It will appeal to children of all ages: we are caught up in this story as surely as Numenia was captured by the hurricane. As the drama unfolds, delighting the reader with vivid verse and images, an underlying message of concern for the natural world is conveyed. This book deserves a place on every child’s book shelf.
This is a spectacular and moving account of a young whimbrel on her first migration to the Caribbean, told in lyrical rhyming quatrains. The imagery and the text are compelling and uplifting. Children will learn about the hardships and perils of migration and the importance of perseverance.It is particularly useful for teachers in the classroom as there is a very helpful teaching and activities guide downloadable from the Page Street website.
Numenia and the Hurricane is based on the true story of a young whimbrel’s incredible courage and perseverance as she fights to reunite with her family after getting lost in a terrible storm. Halliday’s lyrical language and gorgeous art make for a stunning picture book. Absolutely gorgeous!!!
First, I love the pictures and the premise. I’m a birder and want to share the story of birds’ remarkable feats with my children. The illustrations of Numenia show a recognizable whimbrel, albeit one who looks like baby with overlarge eyes and downy feathers on her head. Numenia would’ve been fully grown and feathered, maybe with juvenile plumage but definitely not babyish, before making a migratory flight. Still. She looks cute and relatable. The paintings are dreamy and beautiful; very eye-catching.It’s the verse that turns me off. It sacrifices clarity for the sake of rhyme and images, and some of the magic of the actual story this is based on is simply lost. The telling (in the Afterword) of the true story of Hope the whimbrel, which inspired this book, is in some ways more dramatic and interesting than the poetry of the book itself.Still, it has its moments, and a few of the verses (and the accompanying pictures) came close to bringing me to tears, like: “She’s half the weight / she was before; / a clutch of hope / and nothing more.” I think the book would’ve been even stronger if it had been told in prose, and if the actual events could’ve been spelled out. Don’t underestimate kids; if she was blown hundreds of miles off course, say so. If she battled headwinds and could only fly 9 miles per hour, say it in the book itself. Put the information from the afterword into the text.The upshot is that I like this book, but I think I could’ve loved it if it had been executed a little differently. |
41 reviews